SUMMER summary: Farrington Governors

Farrington coach Randall Okimoto is challenging his team to be better than a year ago, when the Govs made it to the OIA championship game and lost in the first round of the state tournament Open Division. In photo, William Rodriques is brought down by Kapolei’s Elisha Amina in an the OIA semifinals last season. Jamm Aquino / Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Prep World will be releasing summer previews of all 29 Oahu varsity football teams in advance of the 2017 season that kicks off in early August.

23RD IN A SERIES

FARRINGTON GOVERNORS

>> 2016 record and finish: 8-4 (5-2 OIA Red); beat Kaiser 43-0 in first round of OIA D-I playoffs, beat Campbell 25-7 in OIA D-I quarterfinals, beat Kapolei 33-27 in OIA semifinals, lost 44-8 to Kahuku in OIA D-I championship game, lost 14-8 to Waianae in first round of the state tournament Open Division

“Everyone is excited to get our first game on our field at our home stadium. It’s going to be a first time for us. First time in history, so that’s going to be a special moment for us. I feel like Kamehameha is the appropriate team to play in our community.

“The summer is the same as usual. We’re trying to instill values and team rules and work ethic. We’re stressing attitude and effort. It’s not always easy, but year in and year out, you find out that those are the things you have to do.

“As a coach, you see players will come and go and graduate. If you are there year after year, it’s not easy because you gotta go back to the basics every year. A part of you wants to progress. You want to take the kids to another level, but of course they graduate, so you go back to whatever you have coming to your program from junior varsity. That’s the biggest challenge year in and year out, coming back to the fundamentals and how to give that message so they will receive it and apply it.

“Numbers-wise, we’re doing OK, with 55 to 60 on varsity. JV has about 65 to 70.

“Last year, I was pleasantly surprised with where we ended up, considering the lack of players we had up front. When I say players, I mean talent and the lack of size up front. Usually we have more linemen. Last year, we were limited with our linemen for whatever reason. I was happy the others stepped up to carry the load and happy that the coaches as well were able to adjust offensively and try and get better production on the field.

“This year, our goals are the same as usual. We want to continue to keep Farrington at (or around) the top of our league and are looking to progress. We’re talking to our guys that a bunch of seniors have left and the new guys have to come in and we have to get them at that same level. And we talk to them about what we need to do to try to break that cycle, to do better than the year before. That’s a challenge, to start with the guys coming back and then do better than the year before. That takes a lot of time and effort and that’s what we’re trying to do.

“As an example of where we are at, though, and I don’t want people to take it the wrong way, but if it was up to me and I was going to choose between Open, D-I and D-II last year, I would have picked D-I. And the reason why I say that is that’s what the players were telling me with their actions. Even if they weren’t saying it with their words, they were saying it with their actions that they didn’t want to be an Open Division team. I think we should have been there in Open, but they didn’t show me they belonged.

“Every year is always a new challenge. Every team takes on a different personality, and we face different challenges and none of it is the same. That’s what makes coaching so fun and keeps us young as we get older. We look forward to what football has to offer.

“Nothing against being on TV, but when you look on the schedule and see that you’re on TV six out of seven times, wow, you talk about inflated egos and trying to keep them in check because of that. It’s like being a parent, you don’t want to spoil your kids all the time or it’s going to be a problem.”

Love my hometown Governors Ring Ring Kalihi Ring ohhh wrong school sorry, always loved the Farrington Alma mater as sung in the past, new rendition sung well but not like Old School Govs style! Slower and beautiful! Love what Randall has done over his 16 years, 111 wins-62 loss, even though no OIA or State titles, he and staff have been competitive year in and year out, I especially love the Govs rendition of a great Samoan Religious hymn – “Fa’afetai Ile Atua, Ia Pepese, ia Pepese” keep up the great singing and best of luck in your 17th year!

rrforlifebaby
July 16, 2017 7:12 pm

I appreciate and admire what Coach Okimoto has done for his alma mater, but imho, I think they need new blood if they want to take it to the next level.

Good luck Govs!

RRFL!

Mahatma Gandhi
July 16, 2017 9:11 pm

rrforlife, every year Farrington gets their top players stolen by the ILH. How do you then expect them to compete for the state football championship?

Jon
July 16, 2017 11:56 pm

Farrington is loaded. Kids go ILH from all over the islands. So no excuse. Cal knows to grab “housing” style athletes. They’re always, chip on the shoulder type kids. If Kalani had a housing, Ron would’ve stayed. Proof is in the pooding, personnel brings them rings. Back to Farrington, football is a way to be positive in a rough, and I mean rough, city life. So major props for that accomplishment. But on the field, they’re way behind schedule and overdue. So Pick and choose what type of direction you want. Randall…. I’ll take what he’s provided forever!

???
July 17, 2017 4:35 am

@Jon,
Thanks for your honesty Jon. It’s about time someone ADMITS to Cal Lee grabbing the best housing talent to stock his stl teams to win championships. For all of you that think he’s the greatest coach ever “Joke”. If he was, he and Ron would have had a championship at Kalani. JUST FACTS!!.

Education First
July 17, 2017 5:16 am

Nick Saban would not win at Kalani. Neither would Urban Meyer. So what’s your point? Sounds like a lot of jealous in your writing @???

Alpha
July 17, 2017 5:45 am

@EducationFirst. . . You and ??? Is right about Nick, Urban and Cal not winning at Kalani. The demographic at Kalani is not a football one. Whereas the south, inner city, country all have the those blue chip athletes.

The Great One
July 17, 2017 8:08 am

Despite what Coach Okimoto has done for the Govs, it’s time for a change. He had 10 plus years and still can’t get over the hump of winning an OIA title or state title despite beating very good Kahuku teams only to stink it up in the next game against an OIA or ILH foe in the playoffs. Sure the ILH steals players from their district but what’s so different from what Kahuku is doing?

???
July 17, 2017 8:21 am

@ed first, Point is, let all schools recruit and see how successful stl & punahou is? Fact is the best recruiters will win “Saban, Myer” you answered the recruiting question yourself genius!!

???
July 17, 2017 8:26 am

Rod York, Nolan Tokuda, Vae Tata etc.. would win every year with stl talent so no tell me Cal Lee is the best coach, best recruiter (Yes) I give him that….

anywaaaays!!
July 17, 2017 12:03 pm

Every top OIA school (including Farr) has a few of their best talent playing on ILH rosters to form SUPER TEAMS in the ILH. Despite this fact the competition in the OIA is still evenly matched and the battle for the OIA crown is a tossup between 4-5 teams every year.

The problem with the State title and the involvement of the ILH is that the ILH has the upper hand and advantages because they have no district boundaries in order to form their SUPER TEAMS. An OIA team will not beat the ILH unless they do what the ILH is doing, stack your team with talent. OIA rules restrict recruiting and put up barriers for DE transfers.

Its proven that coaching is less then 10% of the winning factor. 90% of winning is the amount of elite players you have on the field. Look at Cal Lee coaching at UH and Kalani HS he was below average, he comes to STL and with recruiting he took STL to a title. Punahou won titles by recruiting. York at Mililani and Miano at Kaiser won State titles by adding two, three or even four ELITE out of district recruits.

Right now Kahuku is the poster child for OIA SUPER TEAMS. Unlike the ILH who can coax and lure recruits to their doorsteps, Kahuku has to rely on their family connections. Most of Kahukus teams are homegrown but every year there is one or two ELITE players that transfer in due to family connections.

Farrington has a coaching problem, not in the sense that Okimoto doesnt know his X’s and O’s but that he has lost the confidence of the community. The fact that two Farr kids transfered to Mililani 3yrs ago kind of lets us know that they dont have faith in Farr anymore. Campbell got rid of Amosa in the Hopes that the new coach will rejuvenate the confidence in the Ewa beach community, if that works out for Campbell then the pressure at Farr for Okimoto to move on will increase.

phILHarmonic
July 17, 2017 12:29 pm

anywaaaays-
Maybe, just maybe, some of the schools you mention are being pillaged should work on offering more than just a great football team.

I fail to see how students who are being offered an opportunity to attend a private school with financial aid is somehow a bad thing. According to you, it negatively impacts that districts Football Program, but how does it positively impact the life of this student and his family? So small minded and selfish. There is more to life than HS football and that is what is selling for these kids who attend private school.

anywaaaays!!
July 17, 2017 12:53 pm

phILH can you explain exactly how the OIA and DOE can offer better services when they cant even get fans for classrooms? Have you been to public schools to see the low life knucklehead students that vandalize, fight and create hostile environments, so much so that many parents that cant get their kids into private schools choose to home school. Do ILH schools have this problem of zero funds and knucklehead students? NOPE!

Teachers and administrators in public schools are underpaid and underappreciated, and they are forced to deal with gangs, drugs and sex all in the name of “No child left behind”. The ILH schools well, if your child is caught with a cigarette in their pocket they are told to “TAKE YOUR AR$E BACK TO PUBLIC SCHOOL”!

anywaaaays!!
July 17, 2017 12:59 pm

…oh and Im not against ILH schools and all that they offer to the kids of Hawaii in academics and athletics. I am against the idea that the ILH think the playing field is level and that the OIA need to cater to every wish and demand that the HHSAA and ILH deem important for the progress of high school football. The ILh only acts in whats best for their own interests and the HHSAA only acts for money. The OIA is being used. All im saying is to stay in yo own lane.

1. No league merger needs to happen
2. ILH1 vs OIA1 prep bowl style is best

Education First
July 17, 2017 2:05 pm

??? July 17, 2017 at 8:21 am
@ed first, Point is, let all schools recruit and see how successful stl & punahou is? Fact is the best recruiters will win “Saban, Myer” you answered the recruiting question yourself genius!!
————
Don’t be so naive and think for a minute that certain OIA schools do not recruit. It’s amazing that you took what I wrote out of context and cannot understand it. I am almost lost for words.

If all schools recruited, the same talent would go to the same schools pretty much.

???
July 17, 2017 2:48 pm

Ed first: If all schools recruited, the same talent would go to the same schools pretty much.
WTF??
Do you really think stl RB’s 5-10 on the depth chart would not go to an oia school of their choice to start instead of riding the bench ALL year or maybe get one carry against pac5 in a blow out.

Chloropicrin
July 17, 2017 7:32 pm

Farrington, Kahuku and Waianae probably loses the most talent out of all the public schools. The difference is that kahuku has a pipeline of their own, as someone up topstated that they have 1-2 elite players coming back to play because the family connections run deep.

Education First
July 18, 2017 11:19 am

??? July 17, 2017 at 2:48 pm
Ed first: If all schools recruited, the same talent would go to the same schools pretty much.
WTF??
Do you really think stl RB’s 5-10 on the depth chart would not go to an oia school of their choice to start instead of riding the bench ALL year or maybe get one carry against pac5 in a blow out.
————–
Schools can easily recruit. Get them as in incoming 9th grader. That kid only needs a GE which is very easy to get at the HS level. The the kid doesn’t have to deal with sitting out or geographical boundaries.

As for a private school kid sitting on the bench going to an OIA school? I would like to think that the kid is at the private school for academics. So yes, I do think they would stay at the private school, even if that means sitting on the bench.

But then again, I am pretty sure you think your kid can go to the NFL so you probably would move schools.

BWAHAHAHA!

Education First
July 18, 2017 1:45 pm

To clarify, Punahou’s sports teams aren’t filled with Rhodes Scholars. Punahou has “choke” hired guns on their teams. Alumni and parents of non-athlete students are concerned about the “win at all cost” attitude of the athletic department and school as a whole. They’re afraid the integrity of admissions process has been compromised in the last 10-15 years. These “mercenaries” don’t pay tuition which takes away resources from needy and gifted students in other areas.

anywaaaays!!
July 18, 2017 3:05 pm

How many of Punahou geeky Rhode Scholars have made $20 Million by the age of 23? One Pun alum Football player (Deforest Buckner) just did and I bet his donation back to the school will be big. Imagine if Mariota signs a $100 Mill deal soon, the benefits STL will see. Football is big business and can be quick money all around, that is why Punahou is jumping on that train.

Punahou, however, realizes that the demographic of football players is a rough crowd so they found a pipeline to Laie where polynesians with warrior mentality are raised as mormon with high integrity and family values. STL on the other hand decided that they will hang their hat on the polynesians from public housing, thus the saying “Private school! Public housing mentality!” https://youtu.be/vTfJYmQiksM?t=16s

Another aspect and benefit of football is that it generates money through concessions and ticket sales while all other sports and arts/sciences drain money.

Education First
July 18, 2017 7:33 pm

Education First July 18, 2017 at 1:45 pm
To clarify, Punahou’s sports teams aren’t filled with Rhodes Scholars. Punahou has “choke” hired guns on their teams. Alumni and parents of non-athlete students are concerned about the “win at all cost” attitude of the athletic department and school as a whole. They’re afraid the integrity of admissions process has been compromised in the last 10-15 years. These “mercenaries” don’t pay tuition which takes away resources from needy and gifted students in other areas.
—————
Look my weird shadow is back. Ma’am, why do you want to be me so badly? Why can’t you come up with your own screen name?

Let me guess are you going to call me a stalker again? Please be original.

#shelikesme #myshadow #followsmeeverywhere

???
July 19, 2017 2:23 am

Ed first admitted to never have played football but is a guru on football, coaching and recruiting. Get a life and do your posting on a your favorite porn site. #Ilovepunahou

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